Level playing field for polls prevails: CEC

Staff Correspondent
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on Saturday said there is already a level playing field prevailing in the country for all political parties to contest the upcoming general election.
He also said police and local administration are working as per the direction of the commission.
“Level playing field for election already prevails in the country. They (Police) are not arresting anyone without specific reason,” he told journalists after attending the inaugural function of a three-day briefing arranged for executive magistrates on electoral code of conduct at Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon in the city.
The CEC said the commission has given directives to the police at a meeting to play roles neutrally. Police ensured that they would work with sincerity and transparency.
The government does not have any directives in this regard, he said, adding that “rather, our election-related directives are being performed in the field”.
In the meeting, the EC briefed executive magistrates on electoral code of conduct. The executive magistrates will help the election officials especially the presiding officers.
Election Commissioners Mahbub Talukdar, Md Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Brigadier General (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury addressed the function as special guests with EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed in the chair. Director General of Electoral Training Institute (ETI) Mustafa Faruq delivered the welcome address in the function.
Executive magistrates of 18 districts took part at the very first day of the briefing which will continue until November 26.
The magistrates from Dhaka, Gopalganj, Cumilla, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Tangail, Faridpur, Manikganj, Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Mymensingh, Netrakona, Jamalpur, Shariatpur and Narsingdi were present.
On November 12, the EC directed the Public Administration Ministry to appoint executive magistrates at the field level to check the violation of electoral code of conduct. The EC asked the ministry to appoint one executive magistrate for every upazila.